Landmark Milestone

State and Federal Communications, Inc. celebrated a milestone this month—
15 years of being in business. Now, the products and services provided have been around for more than 33 years under the former State and Federal Associates.
But, this little group of mighty workers has been plugging along in Akron, Ohio
since 1993.

We are proud of the niche we have in the government affairs industry. Our products and services are used by thousands of government affairs executives in corporations and trade associations across the country.

In addition to the work we do, we also want to thank you for the confidence you have given us with your loyalty. We have a number of subscribers to our Executive Source Guides who have been with the company since the first rollout in 1975.
[Remember, I was not there at that time!]

Milestones are important to show growth. Whether it is the 15^th anniversary of the company or my 50^th birthday in July (did I say that in public), it shows movement. We look forward to serving you for many more years to come…but you will understand if my age stays the same!

Until next month, knowing what you want to do is important and putting that into action is what it is all about.

Elizabeth Z. Bartz
President and CEO

Summary of Changes UPDATE 

1)   The Federal government released the long-awaited LD-203 Contribution report, as well as additional guidance on how to report contributions and use the electronic filing system.

2)   An Ohio court ruled Ohio House Bill 694 unconstitutional, invalidating Ohio’s pay-to-play provisions.  The court found the legislature violated the rule requiring a bill to have only one subject when the pay-to-play provisions were included in an appropriations bill.

3)   Bill 37 in Manitoba, if passed, would create a lobbyist registration and reporting system in Manitoba.  The bill would take effect upon proclamation.

4)    In Hawaii, House Bill 661, establishing public funding of political campaigns, went into effect due to the governor taking no action to sign or veto the bill.

5)   Ohio Governor Ted Strickland signed two executive orders dealing with procurement.  One order favors the purchase of goods and services from Ohio while the other improves access to contracts for minority-owned and disadvantaged businesses.

Here’s a Resource That Can Help You
-- A Contract Lobbyist Directory

For more than 30 years government relations’ executives have used our reference guides. Now, State and Federal Communications is promoting its “Executive Source Guide on Contract Lobbyists” to help you find contract lobbyists in the areas of expertise and in the states you need.

It’s very easy. Simply select a state or the federal option at the ‘Find a Contract Lobbyist’ pull-down section on the home page of www.stateandfed.com and you’ll be directed to a listing of all the Lobbyists in that state who’ve signed up.

This unique resource is FREE for our Guides and ALERTS customers!

So if you have a need in a particular state, or you want to know how to handle a particular specialty issue, there is now a directory at your fingertips. Each lobbyist listed is presented by name and firm name, along with key contact information and background on the lobbyist, issues handled, and major clients.

Also, if you know of a contract lobbyist not shown in the current listing, ask them to visit our website and sign up. The listings are also FREE to lobbyists, through the rest of 2008!

Our website delivers excellent exposure every day with thousands of hits by leading corporate and association government relations executives across America who are looking for the latest compliance news. This is exactly the audience that contract lobbyists are targeting. Starting in 2009, there will be a charge for the contract lobbyist to be listed, so they should especially take advantage of the FREE listing opportunity now.

There have been a number of recent additions to the listing, and this continues to grow each week. Check back whenever you need to use this resource for the latest list of contacts.

 Good luck in your searches.

For Pets Sake ... Meet Baxter and Riley

Baxter and Riley belong to Research Manager John Cozine and his family.  Riley, the cat, is named after 70s TV personality Charles Nelson Reilly and was adopted from the Warren County, Ohio animal shelter.  Riley’s main focus in life is being petted, however he also enjoys chasing reflections from DVDs, avoiding the baby, and sniffing Baxter’s feet while he sleeps. 

Baxter was adopted from a local Akron shelter and the going theory is that he’s part Wheaton Terrier and part Afghan Hound.  Baxter’s favorite things to do include chasing after his favorite ball, tearing around the house like a maniac, and leaning on people.  Thankfully, both Baxter and Riley tolerate each others’ presence.

Landmark Series – Albert Einstein Memorial Statue

This article is one of an ongoing series that focuses on historical and/or significant landmarks.  Information gleaned from www.kittytours.org, www.wikepedia.org, www.ngm.nationalgeographic.com, and www.visitingdc.com .

Hidden among the trees, the representation of this celebrated scientist sits casually, notes in hand, and seems to contemplate the map of the universe at his feet. The gentle expression on his face calls children and adults to climb on the 12-feet-high statue for an adventurous photo opportunity.

The Albert Einstein Memorial Statue (1879-1955) is a monumental bronze statue depicting Albert Einstein seated with manuscript papers in hand.  It is located among many monuments in Washington, D.C. just off of Constitution Avenue across the street from the Lincoln Memorial and Vietnam Veterans Memorial.  This humble statue sits on the grounds of the National Academy of Sciences in the block in front of the State Department.  Albert Einstein was elected a foreign associate of the Academy in 1922 and became a member in 1942.  Two years later he became a naturalized citizen.

This relaxed and informal pose of Einstein offers itself to a variety of photo opportunities including standing on his shoulder and sitting in his lap.  It has become a popular attraction particularly for school groups.

In his left hand, the figure holds a paper with mathematical equations summarizing three of Einstein's most important scientific contributions: the photoelectric effect, the theory of general relativity, and the equivalence of energy and matter. Three quotations from Einstein are engraved on the bench where the figure is seated:

"As long as I have any choice in the matter, I shall live only in a country where civil liberty, tolerance, and equality of all citizens before the law prevail."

"Joy and amazement of the beauty and grandeur of this world of which man can just form a faint notion …"

"The right to search for truth implies also a duty; one must not conceal any part of what one has recognized to be true."

The bronze figure, weighing approximately 4 tons, is 12 feet in height. Einstein is depicted seated on a three-step bench of Mount Airy, North Carolina white granite totaling 135 tons, sunk in bedrock to a depth of 23 to 25 feet to support the monument.  The star map at the base of the statue is a field of emerald pearl granite from Norway embedded with more than 2,700 metal studs representing the planets, sun, moon, and stars accurately positioned by astronomers from the U.S. Naval Observatory as they were on the dedication date.  The studs are different sizes to denote the apparent magnitude of the relevant object, and different studs denote binary stars, spectroscopic binaries, pulsars, globular clusters, open clusters, and quasars. To a visitor standing at the center of the platform, Einstein appears to be making direct eye contact, and any spoken words are notably amplified.

The sculptor was Robert Berks, known for his portrait bust of
John F. Kennedy at Washington's Kennedy Center, based the work on a bust of Einstein he sculpted from life in 1953. Landscape architect James A. Van Sweden designed the landscaping around the monument.

Don’t Let This Free Offer Pass You By

Canadian Compliance for US Companies^TM focuses on Canadian legislation, both at the federal level and in the 10 provinces and three territories. This service is intended for U.S.- based businesses, organizations, and associations and not for Canadian-based companies.  There is a need to understand and deal with changing Canadian regulations, so we have taken the lead here to present this new service to you.  State and Federal Communications, Inc. encourages you to take advantage of the free trial!  Simply log-in to your account and sign up for one free month of service!